Smithers Captain - Heart and Soul of UBC Women's Hockey Team

By Kelly Sharp

     Haleigh Callison of Smithers patrols UBC blueline at PG Coliseum

The captain of the UBC women’s hockey team skated onto Prince George Coliseum ice with family and friends watching her every move. Haleigh Callison of Smithers was close to home to finish her final regular season game of university hockey.

“It’s kinda cool to finish off back at home,” Callison said.

An emotional two games against the University of Alberta brought back many memories for the fifth year T-birds defensman, memories of growing up in Smithers with a hockey rink close by.

“Honestly, I can’t think of a day when I have not wanted to play hockey,” she said. Her passion for the game on ice began when she was only 4 years of age, taken to the local rink by her 3 older brothers.

Haleigh was usually the only girl on most of her Smithers minor hockey teams.

“I was treated like gold, I was very, very lucky,” noted the ‘05-06 CIS All-Canadian.

Her competitive drive was shaped during those minor hockey games with the guys.

“I felt I couldn’t be just as good, I had to be better to be seen as the same,” Haleigh said.

UBC head coach Dave Newson has watched Callison grow with the T-birds women’s hockey program.

“She’s been a big leader at our school in terms of pushing for respectability for our sport,” Newson said. The level of university women’s hockey has taken huge leaps since Haleigh Callison began skating for UBC 5 years ago.

“It’s got so much stronger since my first years,” noted the human kinetics student.

The heart and soul of the UBC women’s hockey program will be rewarded with a long awaited play-off appearance. The Thunderbirds will travel to Edmonton for the Canada West semi-final against the University of Alberta. The best of 3 series begins February 23.

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